Scott Ferenbach, right, at Fairfield High School band camp in 2004. Fairfield band members now 'pay to play,' or have fee for extracurricular participation. / File photo by The Cincinnati Enquirer

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| A Journal News editorial

Haldane's Will Charkowsky drives to the basket against Ridgefield during an elite basketball league game July 16, 2008, at the Brewster Sports Center. Connecticut now allows school districts to charge a fee for athletics participation. / JOURNAL NEWS FILE PHOTO

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In some New Jersey school districts, parents have to pay a fee for their kids to get a “late bus” home after participating in sports. They have to pay to participate in the after-school activity, too.

Connecticut allows schools to charge a “pay-to-play” fee for athletic participation. As New York’s property tax levy cap puts the squeeze on suburban school district budgets, some are pressing the state to give Lower Hudson Valley schools the same leeway. (See our Sunday report, “Pay to play,” on www.lohud.com.) That would be a mistake — the small savings come at a high price.

While such a scheme may seem like salve to the overtaxed property owner, the societal cost easily outstrips the potential savings on tax bills. The benefit of such programs goes well beyond the budding Helen Hayes or future Ray Rice.

Level playing field

The biggest impact of pay to play falls on the kids who can’t pay — economically disadvantaged students already at academic risk. Consider that studies find a correlation between sports participation and academic achievement. Furthermore, schools demand that student-athletes maintain a certain GPA — and coaches often encourage their players to take advantage of homework help and other academic supports.

The more a student is engaged in the school environment, the more likely she is to maintain passing grades and graduate. For students whose future may already be limited by poverty, pay to play could easily add yet another hurdle to graduation. In a changing job market, education — including college and tech training — are key for success. The benefit goes well beyond the individual; the economy needs a highly trained work force.

Extracurriculars offer more than motivation to graduate; they are key components of college and scholarship applications. Schools expect students to be engaged in extracurricular activities. Placing monetary limits on who can participate places further limits on indicia of success.

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Already a concern

School budget cuts often fall on extracurricular and special program offerings. We’ve seen it in East Ramapo, where the longtime band instructor was laid off, despite a legacy of awards and high-profile parade performances. The district, running a deficit and struggling to craft a balanced budget next year, now just offers varsity-level play; a similar move was made by Yonkers.

Athletics and all other non-mandated programs are often the first to be cut when budgets are squeezed. That’s a move questioned by Liam Frawley, athletic director at Tappan Zee High School in the South Orangetown school district.

Frawley, who is president of the Conference IV Rockland Public School Athletic League, said most athletic budgets are about 1.5 percent of a district’s budget. “At Tappan Zee, 52 percent of eligible students play at least one sport,” Frawley told the Editorial Board, “... it’s kind of a bang-for-your-buck kind of thing.” Among his district’s varsity athletes, more than 90 percent have maintained high GPAs. Frawley said he subscribes to the philosophy of former NFL star and inspirational speaker Joe Ehrmann; he views athletics as “not being extracurricular but being co-curricular.”

Robert Kanaby, retired executive director of the National Federation of High Schools, has often explained the value of athletics this way: “Winning on the professional level is required. Winning on the collegiate level has become expected. Winning on the high school level should be a pleasant by-product of what you are really supposed to be doing, which is developing young people into good citizens.”

Involvement in school plays or the track team should not be reserved for just those who can afford it. As Nyack school district Superintendent James Montesano told The Journal News, equal access for all is “what public education is all about.”